Explosive-engine starter.



N0.'8o.o,29o.` EATENTED'SEPTLze, 1905.

E. J. GEAGE.

EXELosIVE ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2,'1904.

- V ////////////////y/z me/who@ preferably in the formof rollers, as shown in UNITED sTATEs .PATENT oEEIoE.

EMANUEL'J..GRACE, OF ERE, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXPLOSlVE-ENGINE STARTER.

the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for preventing 4back-firing action in explosive-engine starters; and it consists inmcertain improvementsin the construction thereof, as will be hereinafter fully-described, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a .device which will prevent the back-turning of the starting-lever, Whateverits form may be, usually a crank, when an explosion takes place in the engine, so as to force the startinglever backward. Where this occurs, the operator starting the engine is liable to be se-n riously injured by reason of the great force by which the lever is thrown back. My device prevents this backward movement of the starting-lever.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Figure lv shows a section on the line l 1 in Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a section on the line 2 2 in Fig. l; Fig 3, an end view of the device, a part being removed. to show spring construction,v the view being from the left of Fig. 2. Fig. 4f is an end view of the device from the right of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a side elevation, partly in section, showing' an alternative construction.

A marks a bracket through which the crankshaft B passes. It has the journal-lug a, in which the shaft part C is journaled, the collar I preventing the movement of the shaft part endwise in one direction. A sleeve or shaft part C is fixed on the shaft by the key b. This may be an enlargement of the sha-ft itself, but

-ordinarily would be a separate sleeve, as

shown. The sleeve has key-recesses c in it, in which the keys D seat. The keys D are Fig. 2, but may be in the form of balls D', as shown in Fig. 5, this being the only difference between the construction in Fig. l and the alternative construction in Fig. 5. The keys may be other shapes thanvround, but are preferably round. The keys are carried in pockets ein a key-sleeve E. The crank or starting lever F is fixed with the sleeve E. A retaining-sleeve G is arranged around the key-sleeve E and normally holds the keys so Specification of Letters Patent.

application sied May 2,1904. seran No. 205,940.

Patented sept. 26, 1905.

that the inner surfaceof the keys protrude into the recesses c, or, in other words, are seated therein so that. the key-sleeve E and shaft part C are normally locked together with a forward movement of the crank-lever..

A ratchet-wheel H is journaled on the extension g of the retaining-sleeve G. It is arranged between the friction-washers 7L, on which pressure is exerted by the nut 71. A

pawl J operates on this ratchet-wheel to lock it against turning backward. The pawl J is mounted on a pin j. This pin is 4screwed into the luga on the bracket. The crank may be turned backward against'the friction to get it in proper position to start the engine, as is ordinarily lthe case.

The retaining-sleeveGr has a limited movement on the key-sleeve E, as shown in Fig. 1. This movement is limited by a screw e', which is fastened in the key-sleeve and protrudes through the opening g in the retaining-sleeve. A screw-plate g2 is preferably provided for covering theopening.

The retaining-sleeve is provided with a recess g. `(See Fig. l.) This recess is so positioned relatively to the pocket e that the key ID may be brought into register with this recess by a relative movement of the retainingsleevevand key-sleeve within the limits of the stop provided by the screw e. The springs K are arranged in theannular recess g3 in the ends of the retaining-sleeve. A cover-plate lr is preferably arranged over the'springs. This plate is removed in Fig. 3 to better show construction. One end of the spring abuts the vpin 7c' on the key-sleeve and the other end abuts the pin k2 on the retaining-sleeve( The spring is tensioned to keep the parts normally in the'position shown in Fig. 1-that.is, with the key G out of register with the recess g4. When in this position, the keys Dare seated in the recess e, so that with a forward movementof the starting-lever F the shaft Bis moved with it, so as to start the engine.

.- Where back-firing takes place, so that the shaft B is turned backward, the ratchet mech- I anism comprising the ratchet H and pawl J lprevents the return movement of the retain- Ving-sleeve G, so that the key-sleeve Eis moved backward relatively to the retaining-sleeve against the tension of the springs K. When the pocket e in the key-sleeve is brought into register with the recess gf, the pins D move into these recesses g4, andY this carries them out of the recess c, so that the shaft B, with the Shaft part C, may continue the backward move- IIO ment without carrying with it the startinglever F, thus preventing the injurious effects ordinarilyencountered with back-firing in this manner of devices.

What I claim as new is l. In a device for preventing back-firing action in explosive-engine starters, the combination with the engine-shaft and starting-lever; of a clutch mechanism comprising a keysleeve connected with the starting-lever and having a key-pocket therein; a key in said pocket; aretaining-sleeve adapted to normally hold said key in a position protruding from the opposite surface of the key-sleeve, and being provided with a recess into which said key may move when a backward movement of the shaft occurs; and a shaft part having a recess into which said key is normally forced by the retaining-sleeve.

2. In adevice for preventing back-firing action in explosive-engine starters, the combination with the engine-shaft and starting-lever; of a clutch mechanism comprising a keysleeve connected with the starting-lever and having a key-pocket therein; a key in said pocket; a retaining-sleeve adapted to normally hold said key in a position protruding from the opposite surface of the key-sleeve, and being provided with a recess into which said key may move when a backward movement of the shaft occurs; ashaft part having a recess into which said key is normally forced by the retaining-sleeve; and a spring between the retaining and key sleeve arranged to normally hold the sleeve in position to lock the key in the recess in the shaft part and the recess in the retaining-sleeve out of register with the key-pocket.

3. In a device for preventing back-Ii ring aetion in explosive-engine starters, the combination with the engine-shaft and startinglever; of a clutch mechanism comprising a key-sleeve connected with the starting-lever and having a key-pocket therein; a roller-key in said pocket; a retaining-sleeve adapted to normally hold said key in a position protruding from the opposite surface of the keysleeve, and being provided with a recess into which said key may move when a backward movement of the shaft occurs; and a shaft part having a recess into which said key is normally forced by the retaining-sleeve.

4. In a device for preventing back-firing action in explosive-engine starters, the combination with the engine-shaft and startinglever; of a clutch mechanism comprising a key-sleeve connected with the starting-lever and having a key-pocket therein; a key in said pocket; a retaining-sleeve adapted to normally hold said key in a position protruding from the opposite surface of the limi-sleeve, and being provided with a recess into which said key may move when a haclnvard movement of the shaft occurs; a shaft part havin g a recess into which said key is normally forced hy the retaining-sleeve; and a ratchet mechanism for locking the parts against back-turning.

5. In a device for preven ting back-firing action in explosive-engine starters, the combination with the engine-shaft and startingleVer; of a clutch mechanism comprising` a| key-sleeve connected with the starting-lever and having a key-pocket therein; a key in said pocket; a retaining-sleeve adapted to normally hold said key in a position protrudingfrom the opposite surface ofthe key-sleeve, and being provided with a recess into which said key may move when a backward movement of the shaft occu rs; a shaft part having a recess into which said key is normally forced by the retaining-sleeve; anda frictionally-held ratchet mechanism for locking the parts against back-turning.

6. In a device for preventing hack-tiring action in explosive-engine starters, the combination with the shaft part C having the keyrecesses c therein; the key-sleeve VIC connected with the starting-lever arranged thereon and having the key-pockets (1 therein, extending through the sleeve and adapted to be brought into register with the recesses e; the keys D arranged in said pockets', the retaining-sleeve G arranged on the sleeve IC, said sleeve `being adapted to normally hold the keys in the recesses c, but being provided with the recesses (f adapted to be brought into register with the pockets to permit the movement of the keys D out of the recesses c; a ratchet for locking the sleeve (i against back-turning; a spring' for holding the recess gf in the retaining-sleeve Gr normally out of register with the pockets a.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EB'IANUEL J. GRACE.

IVitnesses:

G. E. SLI-Lirica, F. S. GALLAel-mn. 

